It is with deep sorrow and regret that Selkirk Silver Band has announced the death following a short illness of One of Scotland’s brass band legends Dave Young.

Dave Young

Born in 1922, Dave started playing Cornet with Hawick Salvation Army Band in 1930 at the age of 9 progressing to Hawick Saxhorn Band. During the Second World War Dave served with The Royal Navy, still playing with local dance bands near his bases, and then joining the Dixie Seven.

In 1946 Dave had a short spell as a professional musician playing with the Maurice Sheffield Dance Band and appearing in famous dance halls such as Edinburgh Palais and Pontins Pwlhelli.

Dave’s philosophy for life was MUSIC IS A HOBBY THAT LASTS FOR LIFE.4BR

Brass band return

During the 1950s, Dave returned to brass banding with the Methil Colliery Band but retained his love of dance bands with the Aberdeen Dance Band. A return to the Scottish Borders in the 1960s saw a return to Hawick Saxhorn Band and he played in the band when they were victorious in the Scottish Championships.

Selkirk association

During the 1970s, Dave began his association with Selkirk Silver Band, being appointed conductor and leading the band to its most successful contesting period since its formation. He also went on to conduct Jedforest Instrumental Band and Hawick Saxhorn Band. Dave then returned to playing with Newtongrange Silver Band and remained with them for 7 years.

The 1980s saw Dave return to Selkirk Silver Band to take up the position of Principal Cornet and remained a playing member of the Band until his recent illness.

Highlights

During his banding career, solo highlights included winning the Carnegie Instrumental Award in 1997 and also that year the Best Instrumentalist Award at the Whitburn Entertainment contest playing his own memorable arrangement of The Music Goes Round And Round (the 1936 hit for Tommy Dorsey) which included Dave on vocals, jazz cornet solo, and instructions as to how to work a cornet.

In fact this rendition helped Selkirk Silver Band to sweep the boards on that day, winning Best Instrumentalist, most entertaining band and best Second Section Band — not bad for a man of 75. Dave then went on to win the best soloist prize at the Inaugural Borders Entertainment Contest in 2001, a contest he was instrumental in organising.

This is your life

More recently Selkirk Silver Band held a surprise `This Is Your Life’ concert to celebrate Dave’s 80th birthday and it was no surprise that former pupils, associates and banding luminaries came from far and wide for the concert. Dave that night, as well as playing with Selkirk Silver Band, played with his own jazz band :- Jazz-A-Ward, with whom that year he had recorded a CD — “80 Years Young“.

Founding member

Dave was one of the founding members of the Borders Big Band and was musical director for the band’s first 10 years of existence. Up until his enforced stay in hospital this year Dave was still playing with both bands, never missing a rehearsal. Dave’s philosophy for life was MUSIC IS A HOBBY THAT LASTS FOR LIFE.

Details

Dave will be laid to rest at Mortonhall Crematorium on Monday 2nd June at 10AM.

Dave, thank you for the music and you will be sorely missed by all.

Allan Wilson
Chairman
Selkirk Silver Band.